Method of making fiber containers with metallic closures



P" 2, 1949. R. BEATTIE METHOD OF MAKING FIBER CONTAINERS WITH METALLIC CLCSURES Filed April 1, 1946 INVENTOR Robert Beatt ie BY 271% I ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 12, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF MAKING FIBER CONTAINERS WITH METALLIC CLOSURES Application April 1, 1946, Serial No. 658,777

.0 Claims. I

This invention relates to containers and more particularly to containers having body portions constructed of fiber or other relatively deformable material and end closures of metal. The containers of this invention are especially adapted for the packaging of oils and other liquids, and may comprise a wound body, preferably in cylindrical form, of paper or similar readily deformable material, carrying a liquid-proof coating or sheet lining on its inner surfaces, and end closures of relatively thin gauge metal, which are adhered to the body portion with the aid of an adhesive composition and mechanically by virtue of deformation of certain selected areas.

Although various types of fiber containers having metal end closures have been proposed, no such container of which I am aware is entirely satisfactory, particularly as to capability of holding liquids such as lubricating oil under conditions encountered in use. Usage conditions, in the case of the familiar one quart oil container, are relatively severe. In addition to the customary agitation incident to packing and shipping, oil containers of this type are often subjected to considerable rough handling at filling stations prior to removal of oil therefrom in the servicing of motor cars. Leakage, which is evidenced either by wicking; i. e., creeping, of oil through the container to the outer surfaces thereof or by a more rapid flow of oil from the container, is generally caused by failure, under such usage conditions, of the sealing juncture between end closure and body wall. Metal end closures, having straight skirts or side walls for engagement with the end of the paper body portion, have been proposed. The major weakness in this construction is lack of desired longitudinal strength. Such end closures, particularly when of relatively thin metal, do not provide sufficient grip upon the paper body wall, the closure metal deforming under application of longitudinal force, resulting in loosened areas and eventual leaking of the container contents. Longitudinal strength may be increased by crimping the side walls of the closure against the paper body portion. However, upon release of the crimping pressure, the closure side walls, because of the greater resiliency of the metal thereof as compared to that of the paper body portion. recede from the body portion, leaving voids containing no adhesive composition or insuflicient adhesive composition, and constituting areas of actual or potential seal failure.

Use of thin gauge metal for end closures is desirable for purposes of economy and reduction in weight. Thin metal tends to follow more closely the contour of deformation in body portion, and guarantees close "lay up" of metal with reduction in amount of adhesive required. An important object of this invention is to provide a paper container having end closures of relatively thin gauge metal in which the above-described disadvantages are overcome or materially reduced and the stated advantages are secured. A broader object of the invention is to provide an improved container of the type having a body portion of readily deformable material and end closures of metal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for securing metal end closures to the paper body portion, and to provide an improved seal or juncture between end closure and body portion, characterized by increased strength and imperviousness to passage of liquid.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method and means for distributin adhesive sealing composition in predetermined desired areas between the end closure and the body portion after the end closure has been applied to the body portion. A corollary object is to force the adhesive into the edge of the fiber portion subsequent to securance of the end closure to the body portion.

With the above-stated objects of the invention in view, a more comprehensive understanding of the invention can be had by reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary vertical cross-section of a paper container wall upon which has been positioned a metal and closure carrying adhesive in its annular channel and adjacent portions.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section of the container of Figure 1 after the end closure. positioned as in Figure 1, has been deformed at its outer and inner walls in mechanical securanee to the body portion, the latter being correspondingly deformed at its end.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a structure resulting from a further deforming operation performed on the container of Figure 2.

Figure 4 represents another modification showing a different deformation performed on the Figure 2 structure.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, l represents the wail of a fiber container body which may be of cylindrical configuration and may be spirally or convolutely wound. and composed of one or several lamlnations in known manner; 2 represents a suitable lining material which may be cellophane, parchment paper. glassine or other liquid-impervious material adhesively secured to the inner wall of the container I; I is a metal end closure which may be of relatively light gauge such, for example, as about 0.005" or less in thickness, having an annular channel I, defined by an outer wall I and an inner wall I, carrying a suitable sealing compound I in the channel I and preferably also on the inner sides of walls I and I, as shown.

Referring now to Figure 2 with reference to the preferred method of attachin the end closure cap, with the body wall and cap in the relative position shown in Figure 1, portions of the side walls I and I of the end closure cap are forced toward one another to form, as shown in Figure 2, oppositely disposed annular ribs I and I embedded in the wall of the container body I. This may be accomplished by any suitable means, such as by expanding and contracting dies. Preferably, the ribs are formed by rolling since it has been found that such procedure materially strengthens the thin metal closure walls. It will be noted, by reference to Figure 2, that this operation has the dual effect of forming one or more keyed sections II in the body wall I, and the trapping of adhesive in the portions of the sealing zone between the ribs I and the channel I. These ribs, because they are oppositely disposed in the closure walls I and I, respectively, provide relatively high resistance to separation of closure and container body by virtue of the thus-formed keyed sections of the fiber body wall. This degree of resistance would not be obtained by having the corresponding ribs of the outer and inner walls in staggered relation, and the described oppositely disposed rib structure constitutes one of the important embodiments of the present invention. Provision of two or more ribs in the wall I or the wall I results in the keying or trapping of adhesive between the ribs. as at ll.

As has been indicated, upon removal of the ribforming or deforming pressure, the deformed metal closure walls I and I, because of their greater resiliency as compared to the paper body wall I, tend to dlstend and pull away from the body wall, thus creating voids containing insuflicient adhesive, which constitute potential seal failure areas. While the resulting seal is relatively strong as compared to prior art structures, due to the keying action provided by having the ribs I and I in oppositely disposed relationship, a stronger joint and more continuous seal may be obtained by filling the stated voids with adhesive. It can be appreciated that after the closure side walls and adjacent body portion have been deformed in conformed relation, as shown in Figure 2, it would be impractical to apply to the sealing area additional amounts of adhesive over that originally present.

An important feature of the invention resides in the redistribution of adhesive originally present, and the filling of the stated voids therewith after the closure cap has been clamped 4 onto the body. According to the invention, this is accomplished by deformation of the annular channel I, or selected portions thereof, to displace some of the adhesive from the channel I and, in effect, pum it down the sides of the deformed closure walls and into the stated voids.

Figure 3 in the drawings shows one embodiment of a deformed annular cap channel which accomplishes this result. In making the Figure 3 structure, the closure 3, positioned as in Figure 2, with closure walls deformed as shown in Figure 2, was provided with an annular detent or rib il in the channel I, this detent being of sufficient depth, as regards this embodiment, to deform the edge of the container body I. as shown in Figure 3. It will be seen that. because of such detent, the original volume of channel 4 has been reduced, and a certain amount of the adhesive initially in the channel has been forced down between the side wall I of the body and the closure walls I and 6. Another result of deforming the annular channel I. as in this embodiment, is to force the adhesive into the edges of the fibrous body wall I, thus providing a more impervious seal at this edge area. A still further result resides in the fact that deformation of the annular channel I causes a constriction of the metal of the closure, tightening the cap around the edge portion of the container wall, thus further compensating for any loosening arising from distortion of the closure metal in the prior clamping or rolling operation. T e extensive working of the closure metal incident to forming the detents or ribs, and the resulting corrugated design of the ribbed side walls, results in a general strengthening of the closure with consequent improved mechanical gripping action of closure to body wall.

In certain instances, it is desired that the adhesive be concentrated in particular localized areas rather than, or in addition to, having it uniformly distributed over other areas. This may be accomplished by deforming the closure channel I in predetermined selected areas such, for example, as in the modification shown in Figure 4. The Figure 4 structure is produced by flat rolling of the outer peripheral portion of the channel I in a direction towards the center of the closure after rolling deformations into the walls I and I, as described, thus bringing the surface of the closure channel in close proximity and conformity to the edge of the body wall, as at II, and forming an annular head or fillet ll of adhesive closely confined at the inner peripheral edge of the body wall. This has the advantage of providing a very effective barrier to the passage of liquid at the critical zone forming the juncture between the edge of the liner 2 and the container body wall I, it having been found that tendency of leakage of the contents of the container is quite pronounced at this zone.

Obviously, distribution or concentration of the adhesive in various desired areas in the sealing zone may be accomplished by the method described herein, and the specific embodiments illustrated and described herein should not be considered as necessarily limiting the invention. Likewise, the ribbed configuration of the closure walls and the channel are preferred embodiments and may be substituted by detents of various other desired shape in order to produce various desired results. Also, it should be understood that the important result of the invention relating to distribution or concentration of adhesive composition in certain desired areas may be obtained by procedure varying from that specifically described above. For example, upon suitably deforming the annular channel of the end closure, positioned either as in Figure 1 or as in Figure 2, while pressing the walls of the closure against the fiber body wall, adhesive may be forced into the interstices of the fiber body wall by the hydraulic pressure thus set up, re sulting in a firmer bond. Then. upon release oi the pressure on the closure walls and further deformation of the annular channel, adhesive may be forced into other sealing areas or into any voids created, if desired. Thus, distribution of adhesive may be accomplished whether or not the closure skirts or walls have been previously deformed, according to the broader aspects of the invention.

Various adhesives may be employed. It is preferred to use thermo-setting adhesive; i. e., one which 15 semi-fluid or fluid at elevated temperatures and which sets or gels at room temperature. Such adhesive is applied hot either to the edge of the container body or in the channel 4 of the cap, or both, and preferably also to the inside surfaces of the closure walls 5 and 6; and the clo ure is fastened onto the body before the adhesive has set; 17 e., while still in fluid state. After redistribution of the still fluid adhesive to the desired sealing areas and permitting the adhesive to cool to room temperature, the adhesive sets up or gels in said areas, providing a uniform and strong seal.

The invention permits use of metal end closure stock of less thickness than that now generally employed for fiber container closures of corresponding size, the latter generally ranging upwards of 0.007" in thickness for use as closures for one quart oil containers.

I claim:

1. In the application to a fiber container body of a metallic end closure having an annular channel defined by side walls coated with a sealing compound, the method which comprises the in order steps of (a) inserting the edge of the fiber container body into the channel (b) forming a circumferential corrugation in the outer closure wall defining said channel while simultaneously forming an oppositely disposed corrugation in the inner closure wall defining said channel, said corrugations being formed sufilciently deep to deform the fiber container, to trap sealing compound between the channel and the container body edge and in predetermined areas between the fiber body and the side walls defining said channel with resultin formation of voids containing insufilcient sealing compound between portions of the channel walls and the container body and then (c) reducing the volume between the channel andthe edge of the fiber container body by deforming the channel opposite the edge portion of the container body to redistribute a portion of the sealing compound trapped between the container body edge and the channel to the aforesaid voids to form a continuous seal between the end closure and the fiber container.

2. A method, as defined in claim 1, wherein the sealing compound is a thermosetting adhesive.

3. In the application to a fiber container body of a metallic end closure having an annular channel defined by side walls and coated with a sealing compound, the method which comprises the in order steps of (a) inserting the edge of the fiber container body into the channel (1)) forming a circumferential corrugation in the outer closure wall of said channel while simultaneously forming an oppositely disposed corrugation in the inner closure wall of said channel, said corrugations being formed sufilciently deep to deform the fiber container body, to trap sealing compound between the channel and the container body edge and in predetermined areas between the fiber body and the side walls of the end closure with resultantformatlon of voids containing insufficient sealing compound between portions of the channel walls and the container body and then (c) redu ing the volume between the body edge and the channel by forming an annular rib in the channel opposite the container body edge to redistribute a portion of the sealing compound trapped therein to the aforesaid voids to form a continuous seal between the end closure and the fiber container.

4. In the application to a fiber container body of a metallic end closure having an annular channel defined by side walls and coated with a. sealing compound, the method which comprises the in order steps of (a) inserting the edge of the fiber container body into the channel (1:) forming a circumferential corrugation in the outer closure wall of said channel while simultaneously forming an oppositely disposed corrugation in the inner closure wall of said channel, said corrugations being formed sufficiently deep to deform the fiber container body, to trap sealing compound between the channel and the container body edge and in predetermined areas between the fiber body and the side walls of the end closure with resultant formation of voids containin insufficient sealing compound between portions of the channel walls and the container body and then (c) reducing the volume between the container body edge and the channel by deforming the channel opposite the edge of the container body to concentrate sealing compound as an annular bead at the inner periphery of the body edge and to redistribute a portion of the sealing compound trapped between the body edge and the channel to the aforesaid voids to form a continuous seal between the end closure and the fiber container.

5. In the application to a fiber container body of a metallic end closure having an annular channel defined by side walls and coated with a sealing compound, the method which comprises the in order steps of inserting the edge of the fiber container into the channel, forming a circumferential corrugation in the inner side wall defining said channel and an oppositcy disposed corrugation in the outer side wall defining said channel, said corrugations being made sufllcientiy deep so as to deform the fiber container body and trap sealing compound between the container body edge and the channel with resulting formation of voids containing insufilcient sealing compound between portions of the channel walls and the container body, and then substantially reducing the volume between the channel and the fiber body edge by deforming the channel opposite the container body edge to redistribute a portion of the sealing compound trapped therein to the aforesaid voids to form a continuous seal between the end closure and the fiber container.

6. In the application to a. fiber container body of a metallic and closure having an annular channel defined by side walls and coated with a. sealing compound, the method which comprises the in order steps of (a) inserting the edge of the fiber container into the channel, (b) forming a. circumferential corrugation in the inner side wall defining said channel and a circumferential corrugation in the outer side wall defining said channel, said corrugations being made sufilciently deep so men-man as to deform the fiber container body and trap sealing compound between the channel and the container body edge with resulting formation of voids containing insufllcient sealing compound between portions of the channel walls and the container body and then (0) substantially reducing the volume between the channel and the fiber body edge by deforming the channel opposite the container body edge to redistribute a portion 01 the sealing compound trapped therein to the aforesaid voids to form a continuous seal between the end closure and the fiber container.

ROBERT BEATTIE.

announces cr'mn The iollowina references are or record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATE PATENTS Number Name Dita 1,590,749 Hulbert June 29, 1926 1,709,196 Snyder Apr. 18, 1929 1,989,031 Westln Jan. 22, 1935 2,019,412 Heyndrickx Oct. 29, 1935 2,099,095 Aument Nov. 16, 1937 2,176,950 Aliment Oct. 24, 1939 2,325,922 Sebell Aug. 3, 1943 2,434,375 Van Saun Jan. 13, 1948 

